Linear Organic Carbonates

2003

The most common and successful method for producing organic carbonates, including polycarbonates, has been based for long time on the reaction between an alcohol or phenol and phosgene. The existing strict environmental regulations and the expanding market for organic carbonates do not assure that this technology can continue to have a leading role in this area, due to the inherent riskfulness of the processes. The market expansion of dimethyl carbonate (DMC), diphenyl carbonate (DPC), and bisphenol A polycarbonate (BPA-PC) is a reality, finding its driving force from the industrialization of alternative routes by EniChem (Italy) and UBE (Japan). This favorable situation can be foreseen for…